When people think of ultrasound techs (also known as sonographers or ultrasound technologists), they often visualize the TV shows, movies, or ads they’ve seen where ultrasound is used during pregnancy to give parents a peek inside the womb to view the moving and growing baby. This is probably the most famous utilization of ultrasound, but there are so many other uses for this powerful technology as well. Sonographers play a vital role in evaluating and diagnosing a huge range of medical conditions among pre-born, newborn, child, adult, and elderly patients.

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Responsibilities of Ultrasound Tech

An ultrasound technician is a medical assistant or diagnostic sonography professional who maintains and operates ultrasound machinery in a hospital, doctor’s office, or health clinic. Ultrasound machines are used for both diagnostic and treatment of various medical conditions, as well as for preventive treatment. The main duty of an ultrasound tech is to make the physician or radiologist’s job easier by doing preparatory work or capturing images before the doctor comes in to see a patient. Ultrasound technician is a general term for someone working in the field of diagnostic medical sonography, which includes any use of sound wave-based imaging technology in a medical context.

Some of the main tasks you’ll be expected to do in most ultrasound tech employment situations are:

Patient Preparation: Escorting patients into the treatment room, describing the process of “taking an ultrasound,” taking images, and calling the doctor in when the preparations are finished.

Results Analysis: Determining whether the image is of usable quality, and taking more if not. Summarizing the number, type, and content of images that have been taken, and keeping a record of the information for the doctor or radiologist.

Equipment Operations and Maintenance: Preparing the ultrasound machine for each use, and cleaning and recalibrating it afterward. A professional technician will be needed to fix actual problems within the machine, but ultrasound techs do routine maintenance to assure that the machine is functioning properly and ready to use when a patient arrives.

Record Keeping: Write down the details of each patient’s visit, from the type of images taken to their content and the diagnosis or treatment that was suggested or given. Many doctor’s offices have specific employees to keep records and do other paperwork, but an ultrasound technician’s job inevitably involves some writing and paper pushing.

Though ultrasound technicians work in comfortable offices or clinics, they may need to spend long hours on their feet, operating ultrasound machinery, greeting patients, and fetching the radiologist or other resident physician to make interpretations and diagnoses.

What are the Different Job Titles?

A sonographer is the same thing as an ultrasound tech. There is no difference. In fact, depending on their place of employment and special area of practice, they can also have job titles such as:

Diagnostic medical sonographer

Ultrasound technologist

Ultrasound technician

Ultrasonographer

Diagnostic cardiac sonographer

Cardiac sonographer

Echocardiographic technician

Vascular sonographer

Becoming an Ultrasound Technician in Lyman

Though it is possible to start a career as an ultrasound technician in Lyman, 82937 by getting on-the-job training at a medical facility, your best bet is to go to school first. Anything from a one year vocational training program to a four year degree can help you become an ultrasound tech, and the amount of education you get may determine your future career options. If you want to move on from sonography eventually, into a role as a nurse or even a doctor, you should plan your education accordingly. If becoming an ultrasound tech is your primary career goal, a shorter program, combined with good references and experience, wil get you the job you desire.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, both medical assistant and ultrasound technician job opportunities are likely to rise in the next decade, and those with the best training will have broader choices about where they work, what hours they work, and how much money they earn. The medical field is growing rapidly, and becoming an ultrasound tech can help you get your foot in the door and give yourself room to grow, both personally and career-wise, in the industry.

To check out ultrasound sonography and medical assistant programs at top accredited online schools, click the links below, or look around this site for more information about this career path.

Ultrasound Technician Career Overview in Lyman

Education

Associate’s degree is most common; certificate and bachelor’s degree programs also available

Certification

Professional certification may be required or preferred by some employers

How do I Choose an Ultrasound Technician Program in Lyman?

Accreditation – The accrediting body for medical sonography programs is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health/Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CAAHEP has accredited 150 programs, including those offered by colleges and universities, as well as some hospital training programs. Though attending an accredited program is not the only way to become a medical sonographer in Lyman, it does automatically qualify graduates to sit for the certifying exam and is universally recognized by employers.

Admissions Requirements – Make sure to research the admissions requirements of programs that interest you. Vocational, associate and bachelor’s programs may specific courses in math, health, and/or sciences.

Career Goals/ Specialization – Because specialization is so common in sonography, be sure that your program of choice offers your desired specialty. Vascular and cardiac sonography are two particularly specialized programs that not all schools offer.

Curriculum – Look over the program curriculum and make sure that yours provides plenty of hands-on experience. Because sonography is a very hands-on, technical profession, this might be the most important part of your education.

Average Salary Of An Ultrasound Technician in Lyman

Just like the other employment, the salary of a diagnostic medical sonographer in Lyman also varies depending on several factors. If you have more education and experience, you will get a higher income. Specialization is the other important determining factor of the salary of sonographers. Geographical area and place of work are the other major factors.

The average annual income of these professionals in Lyman is around $69,938. The average hourly income is approximately $32.60. The highest paying professionals can earn more than $81,414 per year, while the entry level salary is around 416,577 per annum.

You can increase your income gradually after acquiring more work experience. Completion of an accredited degree program is the other method to increase your salary. Experienced ultrasound technicians will get some privileges like insurance, medical benefits, and many more facilities.